Combination temperature control and illuminating light container for refrigerator cabinets



R. EDWARDS RE CONTROL AND ILLUMINATING .IIIIII Nov. 18, 1952 COMBINATION TEMPERATU LIGHT CONTAINER FOR REFRIGERATOR CABINETS Filed May 5. 1 50 /z /x xx 1/ Nov. 18, 1952 A. R. EDWARDS RE CQNTROL AND I'LLUMINAT N LIGHT CONTAINER FOR REFRIGERATOR ABINETS COMBINATION TEMPERATU Filed May 5, 1950 mm mm Q h mm m Nu& %W

hr %N mb mm &Muy uL R/ M NM. &N u Nn nm. 3 u a\ sn ra a 2 a i f mn %h Wh m I I ll// l Www LKMWN %W &W hm hm Patented Nov. 18, 1952 COMBINATION TEMPERATURE CONTROL AND ILLUMINATIN G LIGHT CON TAINER FOR REFRIGERATOR CABINETS Arthur R. Edwards, Evansville, Ind., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application May' 5, 1950, Serial No. 160568 6 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, but more particularly to the temperature control and illuminating devices employed in connection with refrigerator cabinets. Heretofore it was customary to mount the temperature control device, for a refrigerated storage compartment of a refrigerator cabinet, in the wall insulation close to the rear thereof and then, by means of a long rod or linkage, connect this control switch with a manual control knob positioned convenient to the user at the front of the cabinet. More recently, however, it has been the preferred practice to position the temperature control switching device immediately behind the manual control knob and then to mount the assembly in one wall of the refrigerated storage compartment so that the control knob is readily available for adjustment when the door to 'the compartment is opened. This arrangement, while it represents an improvement over prior' practices, introduces new problems which the present invention effectively overcomes. Locating the temperature control switch mechanism immediately behind the control knob necessitates the positioning of the assembly in close proximity to the cold refrigerated temperatures prevailing in the food storage compartment. It hasbeen found that a device of this character when operated in such an atmosphere has a pronounced tendency to collect condensate, and sometimes frost, on the exterior thereof which, in turn, changes the ambient temperature of the device and subsequently interferes with its normal functioning in response to temperature changes in the evaporator area. The present invention, therefore, is directed to the provision o'f means for reducing the formation and collection of condensate or frost in and around a temperature control device when such device is so located in a refrigerator cabinet as to make it readily susceptible to undesirable accumulations of frost or condensate. It is a principal object of this invention, therefore, to provide a simple, yet improved, means for preventing condensate or frost from forming on a temperature control device and thereby interfering with the normal functioning of such device in a refrigerator cabinet.

Another object is to provide an arrangement wherein the temperature control device in a refrigerator cabinet may be mounted in thermal association with an incandescent lamp which is additionally adaptable for illuminating the interior of the cabinet.

A further object is to provide a container,

suitable for fixedly positioning in' the interior wall of a refrigerator cabinet, that is adaptable for mounting an incandescent illuminating lamp and a temperature control device inheat exchange relation therein. I

A still further object is to provide an improved means for preventing the mal-functioning of a temperature control device in a refrigerator cabinet because of the exposure of said device to undesirable reduced temperatures.

Another important object is to provide a simplified means for mounting an incandescent illuminatinglight and a temperature control device in close proximity, to one another in a unitary containen y A further important object is to provide' a unitary container, suitable for mounting in an interior wall of a refrigerator cabinet, that has a temperature control device positioned in heat exchange relation with an incandescent illuminating light, and inwhich means are provided for directing the rays from the light throughout the interior of the cabinet.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent ,as the disclosure is more fully made inthe following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings in which: I

Fig. 1 is a partial sectional View of a conventional refrigerator wherein the present invention has been shown incorporated in one side wall thereof. p

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, with portions broken away, of an assembled device that includes the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken online 3-3 of Fig. 2, but having certain portions shown in plan view for the purpose of simplification of the figure.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line .4-4 of Fig. 3, but having certain portions shown in plan view for the purpose of ,simplification .of the figure. I

Fig. 5 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 4, but taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring specifically to Fig 1 of the drawings, which shows a partial sectional view of one embodiment of the invention, it will be noted that the conventional refrigerator cabinet lllillustrated includes an outer shell ll, and an inner shell !2, spaced therefrom by suitable insulation `material l3, with the inner shell arranged to provide a food storage compartment 14 therewithin. One interior wall of the cabinet .is indicated by the numeral |5 while conventional vertically spaced shelving is shown by the numeral IG. Since the refrigerant compressing apparatus forms no particular part of the present invention, and poe any of the conventional types may be used, ;the-=detaiis;thereof have notbeen shown.

A container '11, jfashioned preferably of" some metallc material and substantially oblong in shape, is formed with an opening !8 in one side thereof, and with a peripherally extending flange !9 that extends outwardlyffromzjthemarginal edges thereof. Openings' 'andyzl along opposite sides of said fiange are provided' for purposes which will be more-fully;explainedhereirafter. The bottom 22 of-saidtcontainerisfashioned, preferably so as to provide a substantially flat portion 23 that fiairs .,into.. a-eontiguous curved cup-like portion 24. An opening 25 irithe end of the container nearest the curved -bdttom portion is provided for the purpose of mount- V ingla conventional,weather-resisting rubberzenteasedu ieleetric glightnsocket 26 ;therein which SOCkt. inmlm, receives i an ineandescent xil- .-,luminating .light-.21. Electrievwi-resza; from the socket 25, may be connectedyth ough raeeonventional door Operating switch 2 93 rtor =anyconvenient source,.of electric power, such as, for instance .that -Which operatesthe refrigerant com- ;pressor and.whieh for purposes ofnthisinven- .tion, need notqbewshown detail. lt will Joe. notewthat the4e1eetricrylight.21,-whempositioned i-n-itsesocket; 2.6; lies adiacent the curyed portion .,;of. the bottom, of,. .the tcontainer inrsuch manner ;that saideuplikeportion, may unction ase reflector for the rays from the light. lf desirecl,

,i of-eourswthe interior surface `of said reflecting ,portion :maybe .polishede ztO; increase its reflecting properties V r'Atranverse member 39,: having downwardly turnedrend fiange: portions 3 l :onoohosite ends rthereofwis. positioned: between opposite sides (of ;the containerr lL with the..outer -,faces of 'said flanges abutting the-.innensurfacesoli-the sides, 'crandeseoured thereto, by any suitablemeanssuch asith screws 32. :Although: the :top -plane of the ;member 30; as illustratem-is spacedslightiybelow -thatofther-peripheral flange` imsuch spaeing is shot: essential to :the conceptofthis. invention.

A conventional,temperature eontro1=device, ini dicated generally sb vthenumeralaaa, is supported from thesmember flv :bye suitable means such as &ther screws 3.4. the-il1ustrated. embodiment the temperature control device shown Ema-coni ,ventional Ty e :A .Ilnit manu-factured bv--Ranco ;ines and .contains the usuai thermostatieally con -tr'olled electric switch which-,operatesttoopen :pr- ,close the ,eleetric rcircuit supplying pewer 'to ;aa refrizerant ,moton-com ress@ unit. A -small ;.diametered-. conduit connects the switch-meshanism with a control blb usuallypositioned 'ad- ;jj acent. the refrigerant .evaporaton while the :elecgtrical, :conneetions for ethe eleetricr switch :meshranismmaymewmadetoterminals. 35 .on- .the .cas-

ing thereof. A `shaft *31, projeetingofromrene side.- of said deviceyis usually provided to permit manual adjustment and control of theswitch without having to. get !into ;the interiormof the `;cievice 'I' he .use and operation 011. such devices ;is of coirse well;understood inthe art; 'hence the specific construction thereofneed not r be further detailed. F.'or the,-.purposes :of: the presene inventionanyoneof .several similan devices ...V nowmnthe market. may be used-withoitdeviathaga from theconcept oLtheinvention.

conform substantially with that of the outline of the container but somewhat larger so as to provide edges 39 that Will overlie the container flange [9, is fashioned with a rectangular open- 5 ing 48 in the center of the frame and a circular e opening 4 l xim each corner thereof.

KIA translucent platezlike-cever is fabricated to 'conform substantially with that of the opening :in the container but slightly larger in longitudi- 10 nal dimension in order to provide peripherally extending -ledge or-'sh-oulder portions 43 that may &ovelrlie; the transverse peripheral fiange [9 in *said'containen -When the frame 38 is positioned ;over-said cover-thealedge 43 Will abut the inner siace oitheframe adjacent its rectangular openingandra ;portion of said cover Will project out beyond the plane of the frame, thus thevcover `Wil1` befixedly"positioned against endwise move- =mnt within the frame. One end portion of the 20 cover 42 has a circular opening therein that is providedwithz b y leded ed imwhle th ;opposite endportiomof said eeover istflat- 'and clear .tand thence. isefiective ontransmitting light rays from-the., illuminatingdamn z' therethrough. J. It r; 25 .w-ill,be..,understood of .cours e thatithe fiat clgaztr portion .,of the cover 'e positioned lover r the mcontai ner opening wilhbeg disposemadjacentthe light so that it may v copperate ,with the reflector :in theibottom of thacohtaineror projeoting and 130 ;diff using :light e rays lithroughout ..the interiorgof the..refrigerated ..compartment ofgthe .cabinet.

ZTheeontrol. shaft ahextending outsofthe ,temperaturecontroldevice passeslooslthzougr an opening.. 4. 5 ,ae inthemember: 3 IL. ;and-through the ;35 ,openingnthe.covenplate Wherea :control knob ..Ji G havinga .central. ;openingAL therein mayebe e -mounted :thereon. Although -any suitable-means may besed iormountingethiszknobsonthetsha-ft, in `the urit illustratednherein one of r a -.-at :7.40 spring` member: 43 the opposite endzsof hichris i afixedrto ;e the `;shaft fer rota tien therewith, -r is adapted tofitwntoa slotted recessQin said knob, .thus operating to, ;hold theknob `seourely impiace, rand at :the-;same :time: providingzmeansrotturn- '45 :ing ;thesha'fttbm rotatingdheknob. 'Theecontrol *ikIOb* imay' befurthen provided' witheatapered edge 5 athattiswadapted ztomate in slightlyspaced relationship wth:thebeveled edge 44 :of 'the opening'in: the .coverithus serving to fiil' the; opening i cand to: :present a -*pleasing appearance. "Gradation `markims' (-not 'shown) on the outside f' the control knob may be provided -to cooperate with a marker 51 on the cover in' order to iailitate -manual adjustment-'in-predetermined' degrees; of

355 said temperature control' device.

The eontainer !1: preferablyi'isrmounted: in'fia :recess i 52 in a-wa11 of the refrigerated"'Compartment -A1though:the= illustration' shows it*as-being* mounted in; the 'side waglrof' a' cabinet'itwill be understood that'su'ch specific location ;is only illustrativeand'not 'limiting. A 'suitable-means 4 fort securing the container` in'the; wall' 'includes the use 'of seif tapping "screws ?53 ;that ;pass .65 (through openings '20 and 72! ;in ;the ppoisite i sides;of the' peipheraljfiange 'l'9, and 'themare held in place' in peningsd inf 'theinner shllgof 'the cabinet by means of speed' nuts.. i

The temperature.. control device' may ibe ,conim nected to? a conventional control bulb ,(.notfshowm by means of'the tube .or condu t 35 iwhchi p sses through a .grommet 56, positiondflinan opening ?51 in the; bottom, of the container,Electricalzonnections "58 from the contrbljme hanism ;ato a 1375 refigerant aompressor miit may ibe %passed '3 through a grommet 59 positioned in an opening 60 in the bottom of the container.

In assenbling the unit the temperature control device 33 is fixedly positioned in the container and the connections then made to the control bulb and refrigerant compressor (neither of which has been shown). The container may then be positioned in the recess 52 in the cabinet wall and Secured therein by means of the self-tapping screws 53 and the speed nuts 55. With the container in place the cover 42 and cover frame 38 may next be positioned and secured in place by means of the screws 6l and speed nuts 62 positioned around openings 63 'in the inner Wall [2 in alignment with openings 4l in the frame. The control knobda may be slipped over the shaft 31 at the same time that the spring 48 is inserted into the slotted recess 49 therein.

In operation the proposed invention is more or less conventional in so far as its usual functions are concerned. The temperature control device operates, as a result of motivation from the control bulb, to open and close the electrical circuit that Supplies power to the refrigerant compressor and thus starts the compressor when needed and shuts it down when the refrigeration load no longer requires its operation. The electric light is turned on or ofi by the door switch which makes contact when the door is opened and thus lights the light and breaks the contact when the door is closed. However, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention when the door is opened and the electric light is illuminated the heat incidentally resulting from the operation thereof is efiective for heating the interior of the container and thus raising the ambient temperature of the temperature control device. In this manner any frost or condensate that might form on this device during the inoperative period of the light is rapidly evaporated, as a result of' the increased temperature of the container, and the temperature control device continues to operate in response only to changes originating in the control bulb.

.From the foregoing it will be apparent that a highly eflective arrangement, which may be fabricated at a very reasonable cost, has been provided for combining a refrigerator cabinet illuminating light in the same container with a temperature control device Whereby the incidental heat resulting from the operation of the light may be utilized to minimize condensate and frost accumulations in and around the temperature control device, which, if not otherwise reduced, would interfere with the proper functioning of said device.

Although only a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a refrigerator cabinet having a refrigerated compartment, the combination of a container having an opening therein and mounted in one wall of the compartment, a translucent cover for the opening of said container, a temperature control device mounted in said container, an incandescent illuminating light mounted in said container and adapted for illuminating the interior of the compartment, said light being mounted in thermal association with said temperature control device so that the heat inlight is utilized to maintain' the ambient temperature of said control 'device above the temperature of the refrigerated compartment,'and an electric crcuit for said light.

2. In a refrigerator cabinet, the combination of a container having an opening in one 'side thereof and adapted for mounting in one walloi' the cabinet, a translucent cover for positioning over the opening of said container, a temperature control device mounted in said container; means including an incandescent light for illuminating the interior of said cabinet and for heating the' interior of said container when said light is electrically connected to a source of electric power thereby maintaining the ambient temperature of the control device above the temperature of the compartment, and an electric circuit for said light.

3. In a refrigerator cabinet having a refrigerated compartment, the combination of a container having an opening in one side thereof and fashioned with a bottom having a flat portion and a curved portion contiguous therewith that provides a refiecting surface for light beams, said container being adapted for mounting in a wall of said compartment, a translucent cover for covering the opening of said container, a temperature control device mounted in said container with the control therefor projecting through said cover, an incandescent illuminating light mounted in said container adjacent the curved bottom portion thereof and in close proximity to said control device and adapted for illuminating the interior of said compartment, said light being additionally adapted for supplying heat when the light is in operation to the exterior of said control device, and an electric circuit for said light.

4. In a refrigerator cabinet having a refrlgerated compartment, the combination of a container having an opening in one side thereof and having a bottom with a fiat portion contiguous with a curved portion fashioned to provide a reflecting surface for light beams, said container being adapted for mounting in the compartment, a translucent cover for positioning over the opening in said container, a temperature control devide mounted in said container, an incandescent illuminating light mounted in said container proximate the refiecting surface therein and adapted for illuminating the interior of said compartment, said light being positioned in said container in close proximity to said control device' whereby the heat incidentally resulting from the operation of said light is utilized for maintaining the temperature of the interior of the container above the temperature of the compartment, and an electric circuit for said light.

5. In a refrigerator cabinet having a refrigerated compartment, the combination of a container having an opening therein and adapted for mounting in a, wall of said compartment, a translucent cover having an opening in one portion thereof, said cover being adapted for positioning over the opening in said container, a temperature control device adapted for mounting in the container and having a manually operable control member that projects through the opening in said cover, an incandescent illuminating light for illuminating the interior of the compartment and mounted in the container in heat exchange relation with the control device whereby the heat resulting from the operation of said light is efiective in maintaining the ambient temperature of said control device above the tem-" 

